Blank feeding mechanism



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BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM Patented Apr. 28, 1942 UNITED STATES ()FFICEBLANK FEEDING MECHANISM Company, New York Delaware Original, applicationDecember 21, 1940, Serial No. 371,088. Divided and this application May13, 1941, Serial No. 393,194

3 Claims.

This application is a division of our co-pending application, Serial No.371,088, filed December 21, 1940, for Mechanism for forming covers onthe trays of telescopic boxes.

The invention forming the subject of the present application concernsparticularly means for rapidly feeding the cover blanks from a source ofsupply and arranging them in an orderly manner in position to be actedupon by succeeding instrumentalities, and to this end the inventioncomprises features of novelty which will be hereinafter described, thescope of the invention being expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings- Figure l is a front elevation of blank feedingmechanism embodying our invention, a portion of a match packing machinewith which it is associated being indicated in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section, as on the line 2- 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section in a plane above the cover-blank feedtable, as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section through the upper portion ofthe feeding mechanism, as on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, showing the blankfeeder frame at the end of its active stroke.

Fig. 5 is a similar view, but showing the feeder frame in its retractedposition.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section through the feed table extensionand the longitudinally extending feeder bars therein, as on the line6-41 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a similar section through the blank feeding mechanism in aplane in advance of the feed rolls, as on the line l--'! of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a similar section, as on the line 88 of Fig. 2, through theblank magazine and ,underlying parts, showing a suction device in itsdown position and a blank imposed on the feeder frame, the device beingindicated in dotted lines in its raised position beneath the lowermostblank in the magazine.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the feeder frame and adjuncts, showingthe frame in its retracted position, and indicating a blank insucceeding positions during its passage from beneath the magazine to thepoint of delivery.

Fig. is a similar view of a pair of spaced guides for the blank in itstravel, a blank being shown in position.

Referring to the drawings, 42 designates a horizontal bed structurewhich is bolted to and extends outwardly from that side of the packertable in the region of the discharging station,

and which bed is also supported by a suitably disposed post 43 risingfrom the base 44 of the packer. Supported above and parallel with theouter end portion of the bed 42 by means of lateral bearing frames 45 onthe bed, is a table 48 having a forwardly extending plate 47 slightlybelow its upper surface. Fixed on the table are spaced bars 48 whichsustain an upstanding magazine 49 constructed and arranged to support inspaced relation to the table a stack of rectangular blanks C ofpasteboard or other suitable material. In the present instance, eachblank is of proper dimensions for a match tray cover.

The magazine in the form illustrated comprises a structure within whichthe lateral edges of the lowermost blanks of the pile are supported bymeans of inwardly extending base toes 511 on lower transverse members 51at the respective sides of the magazine. Each succeeding lowermost blankis forcibly pulled downwardly from the supporting toes 59 and imposedflatwise on a primary feeder including a frame 52 which is slidablymounted for movement toward and from the packing machine, as willpresently appear.

The'means for transferring the blank from the magazine to the feederframe comprises vertically reciprocative tubes 53 which are provided attheir upper ends with nipple suction cups 54, and which tubes areslidably mounted in guides 55 bolted on the bed structure 42. The lowerends of the tubes 53 are attached to flexible tubes 56 in operativecommunication with a suitable air exhausting element (not shown), whichtubes are provided intermediate their ends with ports 553D which escapethe guides 55 when the tubes are in their lowermost position, thusopening the ports and breaking the vacuum in the tubes. Clamped to thetubes 53 is a two-part fitting 5'6 which is connected by a dependinglink 53 with a rocklever 59 fulcrumed on a bracket to rising from thebase #4. The rock-lever 59 has a lateral roll Si in operative contactwith a cam 62 fast on a transversely extending shaft 63 having itsbearings in stands B l on the base. The shaft 63 is suitably driven bythe shaft Mi 0f the packing machine, the contour of the cam being suchas to effect the periodic oscillation of the rock-lever 59 in a mannerto actuate the tubes 53 and their attached suction cups in timedrelation to the feeder frame. (See Fig. 2.)

The feeder frame preferably comprises a reciprocating cross-headconsisting of two spaced side blocks 66 and a connecting cross bar 67therefor, the blocks being slidably mounted on longitudinally extendingbrackets 68 bolted on the outer ends of the bearing frames 4%. Fastenedto the cross-bar 61 are two longitudinally extending parallel bars 69,of relatively thin metal, which are slidably fitted in guideways,including gibs H1 in the top of the table 46, so as to be reciprocativeupon the table extension 4? toward and from the packer. Fixed on therespective bars 69, intermediate the ends thereof, are longitudinallyarranged wedge-shaped blocks H whereof the higher ends, when the feederframe is moved forwardly, that is, toward the packer, provide shoulders72 adapted to impinge the opposing end of the cover blank previouslyplaced on the upper portions of the feeder bars by the suction devices,thus pushing the blank flatwise beyond the table and entering theleading end of the blank in the bite of two corresponding pairs ofsuitably-located feed rolls 13 included in a secondary feederhereinafter de scribed. The distance between the shoulders 12 and theleading ends of the feeder bars is somewhat greater than the width of acover blank so that when such bars are in retracted position their freeends are below the bites of the respective pairs of feed rolls.

The ends of the cross-bar 61 are pivotally connected by rods M withcrank disks 15 on the respective ends of a transverse shaft '16 havingits bearings in stands 11 formed at the respective sides of the bedstructure 42. Fast on one end of the shaft 16 is a sprocket wheel 18which is connected by means of a chain 19 with and driven from a lowersimilar wheel 86 on the operating shaft 63 for the blank feedingmechanism. Hence motion is transmitted to the upper shaft 16 and thecrank disks it, thus effecting the reciprocation of the feeder framethrough the connecting rods i l in timed relation with the suctiondevices. (See Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 9.)

Shafts 8i and 82 for the upper rolls E3 of the respective pairs of feedrolls are arranged adjacent and parallel with the operating shaft 63 sothat the rolls grip the leading end of the cover blank when it isinitially impelled by the feeder frame, The lower shaft 82 is journaledin bearing blocks located in the side frames Ti and below the forwardend of the table 4% while the upper shaft BI is journaled in blocksslidably mounted in the frames 11 and above the table. The shafts 8| and82 are provided at one end with meshing gears 83, the lower shaft at itsopposite end having a gear 84 in mesh with a gear 85 on the crank diskshaft '55. The ratio of the gearing just described is such that the feedrolls are driven in timed relation with the feeder frame. (See Figs. 3,'7 and 9.)

Fast on the lower feed roll shaft 82 adjacent one end thereof is a glueapplying roll 85 the periphery of which rotates in contact with theunder marginal surface of the bottom panel I) of the cover blankprogressing between the feed rolls. The periphery of the roll 86 turnsin the contents of an underlying glue pot Bl, thus applying a stripe ofglue to the opposing undersurface of the travelling cover blank. In thepresent instance the glue pot which we have adopted includes a dependingreservoir S'i'il containing an ample supply of glue for an extended run,which reservoir has therein a screw regulated piston 81! by themanipulation of which the level of the glue in the pot can bemaintained, as occasion may require.

Fast on the table extension 4'! are lateral parallel guide bars 88 and89 which are constructed and arranged to receive the adjacent edges ofthe blank being impelled by the feed rolls [3 and the feeder frame 52,thus uniform- 1y guiding the sheet in its travel toward the packer.

The guide bar 88, which rearwardly terminates at the end of the table 46beneath the bite of the feed rolls, has on its inner side a longitudinalflange 90 that overhangs and lies slightly above the table extension,thus forming a guideway for one edge of the blank, the undersurface ofthe flange 90 being bevelled at its receiving end, as at 920, Fig. 10.The other guide bar 89 is formed with a marginal portion 9! of invertedU-form in cross-section which not only overhangs the floor but alsoforms therewith a longitudinal channel guide for the adjacent edge ofthe cover blank. The portion 9| extends slightly above the level of thetable and is downwardly bevelled at that end 92 adjacent the bite of thefeed rolls. As the leading edge of the blank escapes the rolls such edgeimpinges the opposing bevelled surfaces 92 and 929 and is therebydeflected toward the table extension 41. Thence the two edges of theblank, in its advancement by the feed rolls, enter the respectiveguideways and travel therealong in proximity to the table extension 41.The portion of the table extension under the channeled portion of theguide bar 89 is longitudinally slotted, as at 93, to preclude pressureof the glued undersurface of the blank against the adjacent surface ofthe table extension. (See Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, and Fig. 10.)

GVerhanging the gibs ill of the guideways of the respective feeder bars69 and extending beneath the upper feed roll shaft 8| are a pair ofhorizontally movable kicker dogs 94, whereof the forward or acting ends,being undercut, as at 95, overlie and abut the trailing edge of a coverblank (C) presented thereto, as will presently appear. These dogs arepivoted at their rear ends to the lower portion of a pair of spaced arms96 fixed to and depending from a rock-shaft 9'! having its bearings inbrackets 98 on the adjacent wall of the magazine. Also fixed to anddepending from the rock-shaft 91, at one end thereof, is a crank 99which is connected by means of a link I00 to the upper arm of a verticallever HJI that is fulcrumed to a bracket I52 rising from the adjacentside of the table as. On the lower arm of the lever is a lateral rollI93 which is held in operative contact with an adjacent cam I04 by meansof a suitable spring I05 that is secured to the lower lever arm and afixture I06 on the table, which cam is fast on the crank disk shaft 16.The contour f the cam N34 is such that in a determined interval ofrotation of the shaft '56 the lever It! is oscillated and the rock shaftll! thereby actuated, thus through the arms idmparting forward and backmotion to the two ogs.

The co-operative relation of the parts just described is such that whenthe blank feeding frame of the primary feeder is at the limit of itsrear or outer stroke the feeder bars 69 are in position to receive acover blank from the magazine, at which stage the forward or free endsof the bars 80 are in a plane directly beneath the bite of the feedrolls of the secondary feeder, or substantially so. A cover blank isthen withdrawn from the magazine by the action of the suction devicespreviously described, and is thereby deposited on the bars 69, forwardlyof the abutments H as seen in Fig. 5. In the initial forward stroke ofthe feeder frame these abutments by their contact with the opposinglongitudinal edge of the blank, push the blank bodily and evenly forwardso as to position its leading edge at the opposing downwardly inclinedportions 92 and 920 of the respective side guides 88 and 89.Coincidentally the blank is gripped by the feed rolls 13 and is therebyad vanced in and between the two side guides; it 1 being noted that thespeed of the rolls relative to the feeder frame is such that when thelatter is at the limit of its forward stroke the blank is clear of therolls and is supported throughout its length upon the feed bars, andthat the rearward edge of the blank is in close relation to theshouldered ends of the overhanging dogs 94. Therefore in the nextsucceeding rearward stroke of the feeder frame retrograde movement ofthe blank is prevented. stroke of the feeder frame the bars 69progressively recede from the blank previously positioned in and betweenthe guides, thus permitting the unsupported portion of the blank to sinkupon the table extension 41, as seen in Fig. 5. When the feeder framecompletes its rearward stroke the forward ends of the bars 69 projectslightly beyond the bite of the feed rolls 73 and under the rearwardedge portion of the preceding blank, which edge is thus in engagingrelation to the dogs. The dogs then being sharply swung forward, pushthe opposing blank a short distance within the side guides and beyondthe acting ends of the feed bars 69. Thereupon the freed trailing end ofthe blank snaps down and in front of the adjacent ends of the feed bars.coincidentally, another blank is withdrawn from the magazine anddeposited on the feed bars and in the forward path of the abutments H,whereupon in the next succeeding forward stroke of a:

the feed bars the new blank is fed forward as just described in respectto the preceding blank, and the forward ends of the feed bars push thepreceding blank along the guideways and project it horizontallytherefrom, which ends are preferably under-cut, as at Hi1, to ensuretheir efficient engagement with the blank. Likewise in each succeedingreciprocation of the feeder frame a cover blank is withdrawn from themagazine and carried forward by the feeder frame and the feed rolls,which frame during its advancement of the blank ejects the precedingblank.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to theparticular exemplifying form thereof herein disclosed, as the mechanismmay be modified within the principle of the invention and the scope ofthe appended claims.

We claim- 1. The combination with a blank support, of cooperativelyarranged primary and secondary means for feeding blanks fiatwise insuccession to said support, said primary feeder including an elongatedpusher longitudinally reciprocative toward and from the said support andhaving an abutment between which and the forward end of the pusher ablank is imposed when the pusher is in retracted position, the distancebetween said abutment and the forward end of the push- In this rearwarder exceeding the Width of a blank, and the secondary feeder includingfeed rolls rearwardly spaced from the said support and constructed toreceive the leading end of each blank as it is initially advanced by thepusher, guide means in and between which said blank is fed by the feedrolls so that when the pusher is at the limit of its forward stroke theblank is clear of said rolls and is supported throughout its length uponthe forward portion of the pusher, and back stop means for engaging thetrailing edge of the blank as said edge escapes the bite of the feedrolls.

2. The combination with a blank support, of cooperatively arrangedprimary and secondary means for feeding blanks fiatwise in succession tosaid support, said primary feeder including an elongated pusherlongitudinally reciprocative toward and from the said support and havingan abutment between which and the forward end of the pusher a blank isimposed when the pusher is in retracted position, the distance betweensaid abutment and the forward end of the pusher exceeding the width of ablank, and the secondary feeder including feed rolls rearward- 1y spacedfrom the said support and constructed to receive the leading end of eachblank as it is initially advanced by the pusher, guide means in andbetween which said blank is fed by the feed rolls so that When thepusher is at the limit of its forward stroke the blank is clear of saidrolls and is supported throughout its length upon the forward portion ofthe pusher, back stop means for engaging the trailing edge of the blankas said edge escapes the feed rolls, and means for vibrating said backstop to advance the blank slightly beyond the rolls and the forward endof the pusher as the pusher reaches the end of its back stroke.

3. The combination with a blank support, of cooperatively arrangedprimary and secondary means for feeding blanks flatwise in succession tosaid support, said primary feeder including an elongated pusherlongitudinally reciprocative toward and from the said support and havingan abutment between which and the forward end of the pusher a blank isimposed when the pusher is in retracted position, the distance betweensaid abutment and the forward end of the pusher exceeding the width of ablank, and the secondary feeder including feed rolls rearwardly spacedfrom the said support and constructed to receive the leading end of eachblank as it is initially advanced by the pusher, guide means in andbetween which said blank is fed by the feed rolls so that when thepusher is at the limit of its forward stroke the blank is clear of saidrolls and is supported throughout its length upon the forward portion ofthe pusher, and back stop means for engaging the trailing edge of theblank as said edge escapes the feed rolls, said last-named meansincluding a pivoted forwardly extending dog and means for horizontallyswinging said dog in timed relation to the said blank feeding means.

WILBEE-R C. NICODEMUS. HUGO D, BROWN.

